Straight Path Convention Series Lecture One
Mufti Menk – Gifts of Allah
AI: Summary ©
The speakers emphasize the importance of gratitude and the use of the heart in Islam, emphasizing the benefits of being honest, respecting others, and building one's life through using energy and money. They also stress the importance of remembering to use time and energy, peace and stability for success in achieving good deeds, and the natural state of men and women. They end with a promise to return to Islam and be grateful to Allah through obedience.
AI: Summary ©
Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
smilla rahmanir rahim In the name of Allah subhanho wa Taala Most Gracious, Most Merciful Alhamdulillah wa Salatu was Salam O Allah Milena via vida.
We praise Allah subhana wa Jalla we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his entire household or his companions, Allah subhanho wa Taala bless them all, and May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless every single one of us, my brothers and sisters, this is the first of the programs in this straight path convention series. And I hope and I pray that Allah subhanahu wa Jalla, grant us, goodness, and May Allah subhanho wa Taala open our doors. Obviously, it's the first of my lectures in the series, otherwise, it is already commenced with the others. I had a beautiful journey coming in to this beautiful country. And I'm meeting here this morning with beautiful people
from a beautiful company. And at the same time, we ask Allah to grant us beauty in this world and the next. The true beauty is the beauty of the heart. Remember this, and the beauty of the heart is only achievable if we have a link with the owner of the heart and the one who gave us the heart in the first place. So we asked Allah subhanho wa Taala, to grant us goodness, the topic here from Allah.
Even
the last verse of the capital, I'm sure we would all know this by heart or the bulk of us would know it, we read it in Salah, where Allah is telling us that indeed, definitely, we will definitely ask you about the favors. The favor is upon you, Allah has favored us. So Allah subhanho wa Taala has blessed us with so many things. He's given us a lot. What are the most important things he's given us? And what are some of the other things he's given us? And what type of questions Is he going to ask? And what's the benefit of being thankful to Allah subhana wa Jalla for his blessed us. So that's what I want to talk on. Because I need to know if I'm going to be questioned by Allah
subhanho wa Taala about what he's given me. I want to know what the questions are going to be. I want to know what is it that he's actually given me? I want to know how I can answer those questions. And I'd like to know how I'd like to know how Allah subhanho wa Taala will actually reward me in this world and the next, if I am really grateful for what he has bestowed upon me. This is a gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala I am standing here at this beautiful telecom company. And I'm sure you would all know that what is required of us is to be hardworking, to be upright, to be honest, to be people of faith to be people who understand that they are answerable to Allah subhanho
wa Taala your immediate boss, the person who might be above you, in terms of your work might not be watching you but Allah is watching.
Your immediate boss might not have required you to do certain things but Allah might require you to have done certain things. So it is Allah subhanho wa Taala whom we really really need to be concerned about in terms of our link with because he or she who does not have a link with Allah subhanho wa Taala is at loss. So what are some of the gifts of Allah? You know, a Nadeem speaks of Nehemiah. The word minima I'm sure you would understand it even in your own local language. It refers to the gift of Allah, the bounties of Allah the boons of Allah subhanho wa Taala what he has given you. This is what it refers to. So what is the biggest gift, a biggest gift that Allah has
blessed us with? Let's go to Surah Fatiha right at the beginning. And we know this is a straight path convention series. And we will find Allah says in Surah Fatiha is Dino
stepping Guide us to the straight path. That is a draw that we make so many times a day Guide us to the straight path. That is the path that Allah describes in the very next verse, what is the straight path? So,
it is the path of those whom you have favored. The word used is an AMA ama, ama. So it is the path of those whom you favored to walk on that path. Who are the ones who are favored to walk on the path. So it would mean the favors of Allah start with the ability to tread the path, the straight path that's the famous of Allah. It's the beginning of the favors of Allah, you are a movement you are a believer, you believe in Allah. The fact that you recognize your maker is the biggest favor of Allah. It's the Nirmal Allah is going to ask
You about your link with him. I sent you to Earth. I gave you a brain. I gave you the ability I sent you messages. I sent you messages. Did you ever recognize me? I made you. You knew you were coming back to me because everyone else has come back to me. What did you do about it? You knew that you are becoming older and older and one day you have to leave this world and everybody else will take over. Why didn't you develop a link with me? You knew I was your maker. Why didn't you put your head on the ground and say oh my maker You are the highest and the greatest Subhana Allah Why didn't you do that? It's a gift of Allah. Allah is going to question you about everything has blessed you with
when we talk of Nirvana. Some people think it only means money, wealth, your car, your house. That's not the only name of Allah. That's part of it. Yes, we are living we are surviving we are breathing Mashallah, we are clothed. We have eyes, noses, mouths, Mashallah we have so much within us that we will never ever be able to, we will never be able to circumscribe we won't be able to jot down all the gifts of Allah subhanho wa Taala in Surat Ibrahim, Allah subhanho wa Taala makes mention of this very powerfully and loudly where Allah says, what you
do
in
indeed, if you are going to try and count the gifts of Allah, you'll never be able to do that he's blessed you with more than you can actually count. He says man is indeed oppressive and at the same time, ungrateful man is ungrateful. Generally man shows a lot of in gratitude towards the one who has favored him. Look at how many people don't have a link with their makeup knowing that Allah made you Allah made you Where are you going? Yeah, you
can carry me let me holla
Amen. What is it that has deceived you against your own Lord Who has created you? He gave you your your posture, your shape, he has formed you he's given you the form How can you go away from Allah subhanho wa Taala. So the path that Allah is speaking of in Surah Fatiha is actually the gift, the biggest gift that Allah has bestowed upon those who believe so Allah says The path of those whom you have favored.
Who are they? Who are the ones whom Allah subhanho wa Taala has favored. If you look at verse number 69, Allah subhanho wa Taala explains it again. Why May Allah,
Allah
meenan, a, b, c, d.
e was Sony. Whoever follows Allah and His Messenger, whoever follows a means to follow whoever follows Allah Subhana Allah to Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he will be with those now with those meaning obviously resurrected with those who Allah has favored whom Allah blessed with his favor. What is the favor? It is to be able to follow Allah and His Messenger, that's the favor. So Allah says, If you follow a line, His Messenger used you now join the ranks of those who Allah has favored.
Who are they? And they've been the messengers. When Allah chooses someone to be a prophet, that is the biggest favor. When Allah subhanho wa Taala chooses someone to be able to convey a message. That's a very big favor of Allah. So Allah Subhana Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah.
So Allah subhanho wa Taala has selected the prophets. The top of all of them is Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Allah has chosen him. So Allah subhanho wa Taala clearly says, such a person will join the ranks of the prophets and those who are truthful, which means truthfulness is also a gift of Allah. You will be asked about it, you will be asked about the way you used your tongue, you will be asked about how you spoke were you truthful or did you utter falsehood? Were you honest and upright? Or were you not? Those are the favors of Allah, he's going to ask you about it. What did you do? How did you speak? How did you interact? Were you honest, were you truthful? So this is what
Allah says, when you follow Allah and His Messenger, you will be with the messengers, and you will be with the truth. And you will be with those who sacrifice their lives for the pleasure of Allah subhanho wa Taala. Those who are pious, those who are good.
We ask Allah subhana wa Taala to grant us piety and goodness and just to pause for a moment. piety does not mean that you have to stand in Salah 24 seven or you have to be fasting every day, or your
Life or you have to be a hermit somewhere tucked away, you know? No. piety refers to leading your life in such a beautiful way that you do not go against the commands of Allah. And at the same time you fulfill his instructions that's quiet. So you could be a very pious person, but you could be working hard every day, morning, afternoon, evening, you haven't missed your Salah, you have a portion of the Quran you read every day you are honest. You try to expand your knowledge of Islam, you worship Allah alone, and you understand and relate with the issues of this world. And at the same time, try and make the most of your situation Allah put you in a situation, you cannot deny
that each one of us is different. You have a family matter, you have financial matters, you have so many other issues that affect you you may need some people don't need to work. Some people need to work. Some people need to work very hard. Some people can work because they've got a degree and some people still need to get their degree and some people have been tested with health matters and some people Subhanallah have not been tested with health matters. So those who have sound health, Allah will ask them we gave you How did you use it? Well, I think it's a question we would when you were healthy. Did you read your Salah when you were healthy? Did you fulfill our last instruction you
know on the Day of Judgment, we will be asked by Allah subhana wa Taala to prostrate to him
to prostrate to him. And the Koran says that on that day, there will be a day when Allah will instruct the people to prostrate to him. Those who did not use to prostrate when they were able to do it in the world will not be able to do it in the hereafter. May Allah subhanho wa Taala strengthen us my brothers my sisters, let's become more faithful to our own maker, our own maker Allah what is stopping you from frustrating to him five times a day what is stopping you everyone is doing it the world is doing it the meaning are plentiful. Let us not be the odd ones out. Let us not be the ones who are the only ones not reading Salah. Oh we join a group of people who don't look
what Allah subhanho wa Taala says yeah, oh my
god.
What are they can Oh,
God.
Allah says on that day, he will expose a part of himself and ask them to ask them to prostrate to him. And he says they won't be able to frustrate Who are those those who used to be called to prostrate in the world and they refused. So I was going to ask you I gave you health. Why didn't you prostrate? You know Subhanallah we have such a blessing gift of Allah.
such a blessing gifts known as sickness. Did you ever know that sickness is a gift. It's one of the few things that instantly throws you close to Allah. instantly. You have no option, especially when medicine has given up then you realize I need to develop a link with my maker that's a gift of Allah. If that is what caused you to earn paradise, trust me it was the best thing that could have happened to you May Allah grant us cure.
Some people never had Salah never, ever. The day they cannot move anymore. They want to eat Salah while sitting Alhamdulillah beautiful. At least now you're eating Salah, even though you are now sitting. So even though you're not sitting, but at least you're reading Salah it's a gift of Allah. So Allah subhanho wa Taala watches you he sees you're ill he sees you're sick, that's a gift of Allah. He knows he made you that way because he loves you. So Pamela, he made you that way because he loves you. And this is why the adage says in the law either Bob dem it Allah when Allah loves a worshiper, he tests him. It gives you more tests. So Allah tests you, Allah will test you. When you
start crying to Allah, helplessly and then you turn to Allah. And obviously there are two things that can happen when you are sick and Ill shape one can get hold of you, or spirituality can get hold of you religiousness can get hold of you. So you need to be careful it's like treading a tightrope. You know, you will have someone who looks like a religious person and he tells you Hey, I can kill you. So you say okay, kill is in the hands of Allah that's obviously the but let's see what you have to say. So if they are giving you For example, some herbal medication or they are giving you some some or they're giving you honey and for example, the black seed and these things that are
beneficial various other items or they give you a diet to tell you You know what, try and abstain from this type of food and try and eat this type is high and mineral and vitamin and so on. Alhamdulillah we understand it but the minute they tell you listen, stand on your left foot for three minutes.
Start looking up in the sky and hold five leaves on the right hand. And then you tell someone to put a piece of lemon into your mouth and do that five times a day. You need to know that this shape and complete shape and allows me to ask you, that is the devil alive. You need to know this. Where did they come from? This is nothing that makes sense. It's not medication. It's not herbal medication. This is superstition. This is the devil. No matter what the person who gave you this looks like it's wrong. You need to have common logical sense that this is unacceptable. This is a man he's going to ask you about this gift. So at the same time, like I said, your heart becomes softened. And you turn
to Allah so now we cry so our Salah we don't miss isn't it? Because why we have a problem. And then what happens when you have a major issue? So Han Allah, you get up a little bit earlier than Salatin for another salon owners.
That isn't it? We are up very early and you say system or if your husband says a wifey Why? Absolutely.
So Pamela, so that's why, man, Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us ease up very early and we cry to Allah. Allah subhanho wa Taala makes it very, very beautifully clear where he says in Surah
verse number 51, what
TV
show
when we have blessed man with all the gifts
he turns away, he forgets us. You have nothing missing in your life absolutely nothing. Your health is okay your wealth is okay your children are okay your work is okay. Your salary is okay. Your your situation is okay. Everything is beautiful. You're enjoying eating out every other day you have a holiday, you know everywhere you want to go you've gone and so on and you still keep on going in everything is growing and what's the point of knowing Allah A lot of people will say what's the point of million is that is the time you're supposed to get closer to Allah. The winner is the one who has the dunya and the asherah.
Latina
Latina Shivaji Hashanah walking Joaquin
explains to us this beautiful Dr. O Allah grant us that which is goodness in this world and goodness in the next and sage goddess from the punishment of the Fire. So that is the beauty you want goodness here and there. That is obviously not everyone will get this but that is the ultimate gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala.
But if you have
an issue, and that is quite normal to have issues, problems, difficulties, learn to turn to Allah and Allah No, it is when things go wrong, that people begin to make supplications long, prolonged Subhanallah you know if you see if you see a man walking in the masjid and he sits in the masjid, some kind of line he asks Allah and you find him after Salah, he's sitting there after salah and he's, he's raising his hands. He's crying to Allah and you find when you go for a lot of money be sitting in the same place. He is sitting in the same place.
He is sitting in the same place and asking Allah subhanho wa Taala What do you think you think this man's got a big problem? He's sitting in exactly the same spot. And he's asking Allah subhanho wa Taala so that is the description in Surah facilite the verse that I read it, we are losses when we have bestowed upon men, when we have given him he turns away he turns away on his side. And when evil befalls him, he makes prolonged prayer prolonged prayer. Now you tell me spiritually which is a better condition.
Is it better to turn away or is it better to be engaged in prolonged prayer? So what is the gift of Allah here? For us? May Allah Subhana Allah Allah bless us you know, I always used to think when I was young that why is it that only old people become sick and invalid? You know, when you're old you become a little bit you know, you find it a little bit more difficult to walk around Shiva and all those who are sick and Ill I mean,
and then sometimes you cannot walk and then you have to sit down and then you become old and then we die we pass away okay? Why is it that Allah has kept it such that the older people that Oh, why isn't in the middle of your life? He would have just kept a few years Okay, now you see, can you help me once again, it is Allah gifts that when you get old you start suffering pain so that you start turning to Allah so that you prepare for the day he will meet with him. So can Allah It's amazing. Now you also now you know that I'm praying
You know, it's a fact why because you're old things change, everything happens. And everything starts moving in a direction that keeps on reminding you and no longer the little teenager I used to be Subhana Allah, Allah Subhana, Allah to Allah grant us the ability to thank him for his gifts, he's going to ask us definitely, you know, when you're young,
one of the gifts you have is energy. Another gift you have is time.
As you grow older, sometimes you might also have time again. But these are things I'm not going to ask you, I gave you time, how did you use this time? I gave you energy, what did you use your energies in? And this is why the addict speaks of seizing opportunities before they are lost allows me to ask you, what are the five things?
So Panama is turning comes in a couple of times sees five opportunities before they're gone, they are overtaken by another five opportunities or another five situations? What are these? initial five, you have your health, you have your wealth, you have your young age, you have your life Subhanallah and you have your youth, in fact, we spoke about young age, your health, your wealth, your life.
So panela These are some of the things that Allah Subhana Allah has blessed you when
you ask Allah
to grant you the ability to use it before he takes it away in a way that when he asks us, we have an answer. We have an answer. When Allah says, What did you do with your wealth? Where did you earn it? And how did you spend it? It's a question that's going to be asked in your grave.
Where did you learn your wealth?
How did you spend it? Hello, Hiram. This means that when you earn you should be conscious of Allah. And when you spend, be careful. Number one, you're not allowed to spend on heroin. So alcohol and whatever else that is, the list is endless. You don't spend on it. And number two is don't be extravagant.
A lot of us have developed a new disease and I want to speak about it because sometimes we're all affected by it myself included. What is it falling prey
to the adverts that you see? Wow. You know, advertisement. So now the mall there is this thing here? I don't need it. I'm not going to use it, but I want it. Why because it's the latest thing.
I was reading about the Samsung s6 and to be honest, it has. I think you guys were waiting about waiting for this.
It doesn't have a removable battery anymore. I don't want it I'll remain with my five so panela
it doesn't have an SD card. It's got internal memory. I don't want it
but it's the latest maybe I do when Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us. The point is because it's something new we tend to just wanted stay with your old faithful Mashallah, I was going to ask you this, well, you could have used it better. And this is why when you spend your wealth in a good cause when you give for charity, that is what will build your heaven. When you've used it builds your account when you haven't used it. Guess what? It belongs to someone else. As soon as you die, they start fighting for it. As soon as you that. This is mine. This is mine, oh, my father left this for me that hang on your father works so hard. He didn't use it. It's now on your name, whatever he
used on his name.
This is the gift of Allah. So Allah subhanho wa Taala reminds us of this. Getting back to what I actually started with this path that we're supposed to be walking on is such a beautiful part. It's the gift of Allah. It is the gift allows me to ask you your opportunities that you had to listen to a good talk that motivated you to learn more and to practice and to become a person who beams goodness. You know, you're a mother in the home, a father in the home Allah bless those who don't have children with children. But what role did you play? It's a name of Allah. Children are a great gift of Allah. Allah says, I'm going to ask you on that day.
On that day, I'm going to ask you regarding everything I gave you, I'm going to ask you, so Allah says, I placed you with children. How did you look after them? Did you teach them? What did you do to them? I blessed you with a family. How did you look after it? I blessed you with responsibility. What did you do? Did you fulfill it? I gave you the gifts.
So it's a path that we walk upon, that our children will also walk upon when they see us walking upon it. We will not be able to fulfill the duty unto Allah regarding our children. If we don't lead our lives in a way we want our children to lead. They will follow us and Allah subhanho wa Taala strengthen us and this is why Allah subhanho wa Taala in the Philippines.
So many times he keeps reminding us because reminders would actually benefit us. When Allah you know, when Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks of Salah, Salah is the prayer. He could have said it once. It's enough in the poem. So people say Salah, says in the Quran, but he said it so many times because he says it reminds you it's important
to xhaka and fulfill your Salah, give us a car that's Allah subhanho wa Taala he says it so many times. So similarly he says Allah subhanho wa Taala says beautifully inshallah to marry the verse number 11 verse number nine.
Allah subhanho wa Taala makes mention of it. Allah says,
Oh you who believe. Remember the gift of Allah upon you
Subhana Allah. Remember the gift of Allah do not become oblivious of the gift of Allah upon you. And these verses, some of them draw our attention to the gifts that were given to those before us. Some of them draw their attention to the gifts given to us like Allah subhanho wa Taala says, For example,
regarding the story of Mousavi, salatu salam, ala Mousavi omiya.
When Allah subhanho wa Taala says, oh, almost remember when you Sally Sam told his people, oh my people remember the gift of Allah upon you. He made you kings, he made you rulers. He kept Prophethood he kept Prophethood he gave you Prophethood Subhana Allah which means he kept Prophethood in you, so many of the prophets have been.
So Musa alayhis salam is reminding them in Surat Ibrahim similar first where Allah Subhana Allah says musala a solemn reminder these people, all my people remember the gift of Allah upon you. So the same applies to us, oh you believe? Remember the gifts of Allah.
Allah speaks about how Allah protected the meaning on the day of
the battle that of the trench that took place was so severe in our lives we have a lot of insecurities don't mean who's going to protect us Allah. Sometimes Allah has saved us a major car accident. The car is a write off, but we are fine. Unless that was our gift. We're going to ask you about it.
Allah bless you with a vehicle to start with you have a car Mashallah you actually have a car, some kind of law. That is a gift of a law. There are others who don't know Allah subhanho wa Taala blesses and if you do not have a vehicle, you have the ability to catch the public transport. Others don't they walk, if you can walk, at least you can walk, others don't. They have to be pushed, so Han Allah, look at the gift of Allah, we take them for granted but when they go away, we're quick to ask Allah prolonged We ask Allah Subhana Allah Allah, Allah, Allah give me Allah grant me, Allah says when I gave you You ungrateful.
When I gave you you are grateful and now you want to ask us for more Subhana Allah. And this is why,
Rahim Allah subhanho wa Taala says, what you've done.
Allah has made it very clear.
Allah subhanho wa Taala has made it very clear that if you are thankful he will grant you more he will give you more and increase and if you are ungrateful, he says indeed my punishment is severe. punishment is severe. May Allah subhanho wa Taala not punish us. May He make us from those who understand you know when you have eyes, don't use those eyes to look at that which is
you know, we have the menace of * across the world. across the world. It is so easily accessible. Be careful, use your eyes correctly. These eyes are a gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala I was thinking to myself, in our mobile phones, a lot of us have
bundles of data, the agree data bundle, you know about a hot link and cold link sometimes it becomes but may Allah subhanho wa Taala make it easy for us. We have data bundles and we all know about it. I mean we're a telecom here
and I tell you something, the charges are phenomenal. Do you agree? Very expensive, Mashallah. Very expensive.
But we made sure that we will buy we make sure we will put we make sure we will convert into a bundle. We make
We will use and we make sure we will monitor agree. So when you want to watch something interesting, you pay quite a bit. Say for example, you have a whole lecture of, I'm saying lecture I'm not saying movie because we don't want you to sit and watch movies. So you have a whole lecture of one and a half hours, you better watch that on your phone. How much of gigabytes would that take? If an hour is one gigabyte, you've actually taken up 1.5 gig, okay? One and a half gig. And you might want to look for the same thing, but with a lower quality so that you don't need to waste so much of deep. Why am I saying all this?
Can I tell you why the point I want to raise is powerful. Today, you're looking at me? highest possible definition. What did Allah charging?
HDD? How many disks are you actually using to look today? And to listen?
Well, I think it's one terabyte per second. if not more, do you agree?
And is there any interruption of service does the hotlink ever become?
No, no interruption of service at all.
But Allah says this gift, we did not charge you for it. All we are saying is listen to us, worship US alone, don't go to the shapefiles. And at the same time, read your Salah dress appropriately. That's all we want.
And you will build your asherah imagine we are ready to pay for something mediocre. Allah says the gift. Now how I worded it today? I don't think many of you may have thought of it this way.
But the reality is we have to keep on reminding each other. That's a gift of Allah such a big gift. You are hearing me? How are you hearing me? It's a gift of Allah ask those who cannot hear us those who cannot see, when Allah has taken your eyes away. If you bear suffering, he will grant you paradise as a result of the suffering that you were bearing because you had no eyes.
Allah grant all those who cannot see the vision. I mean,
something else? Your heart pumps, that's a gift of Allah blood. How much blood does it pump? How many times does it beat more than 136,000 times a day? Is that correct?
It just keeps on going. You don't even know it's it's a gift of luck. But I tell you, if you put your hand on your chest and you listen to it,
and think to yourself, this thing is going to stop one day.
Just the thought of it makes me yo Subhanallah
and yet it's just a just going past those who have a problem with their pulse, and then you have a pacemaker and then you are told Hey, you need to have a bypass and May Allah make it easy for us. Ask them.
Ask them they will tell you how stressful it is just to think about it. But with us, the bulk of us we're sitting here we've never even thought about Allah says that's a gift.
You have the opportunity to turn to Allah while your blood is pumping and your heart is pumping and you are breathing. Take a look at the breath the lungs take a look at how they inflate and deflate without any effort from you. Do you agree? If people had to pay for health, what money they would give their entire fortune just to make sure their liver is in order. their lungs are in order but Subhanallah we who have it the bulk of us without an effort we become ungrateful to Allah subhana wa Tada. Allah says, I'm going to ask you that I gave you your lungs. I gave you your heart. I gave you your mouth. I imagined the taste buds, taste buds. How do they work? It's amazing. Your nose. How
does it work? You smell a new breed and at the same time, some kind of law you know, it's part of your beauty. The goodness
Allahu Akbar, Allah subhanho wa Taala Granta sees, you know, one day, I was speaking to some people about the gifts of Allah. And the brother was saying I had a very big gift of Allah and I didn't appreciate it and Allah took it away from me and I was wondering, you know, Allah, what is this gift of Allah that he's talking about? Let me hear about it. Maybe you can share it with someone someday. And I was surprised. Some people to them certain things that are not really of great relevance are so important.
You know what he was talking about?
his head, he became bald. So he says, You know what, I had a gift of Allah here and now I don't have a ball. And I was shocked. He told me I have spent $10,000 trying to get my hair back. $10,000 so he says I tried this medication and that means every time I see an advert and they show before and after, before and after. And I get excited I look at it I say Wow, it reminds me even help. You know when they want to sell you the product. They show you a big woman and they just right off
And in the program on the computer, you get a little program that can show you can shrink your budget, and they show you after. This is why they say the best way, the best way to become in proper shape is to use Photoshop
Anahata Allah protect us, Allah grant us ease of is let's analyze. This brother says before and after. Whenever I see this, I used to go crazy. And I used to say, look, I need my hair back. So I told him brother, they didn't introduce something for you to show you before before. You know they show you before and after. But before before we were better than after. Do you know what I'm saying? May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us an understanding. The point I'm raising is everyone takes these gifts of Allah subhana wa Taala on different levels. Some people take this seriously. And that's it, whatever it is, these are the gifts of Allah upon you. But the line that we need to draw is that of
faith, you can have lost everything in this world for as long as you did not lose the hereafter. You are okay, you are safe. Ultimately, we're all going to go through difficulties and issues and problems. We are going to go through them. But Allah subhanho wa Taala will bless us with paradise, if we take cognisance of the biggest gift of is, and this is why remember, everything comes from Allah. Why am I being
Femina Ma, you need to remember every gift in verse number 53. Allah says everything that we have blessed you with is from us, no one else we have given you gifts, it's from us. So someone says but my father gave me the money or who gave your father the money. All you got to do is go back in the day, that equation and you will find where it comes from the moment we link it to ourselves our intellect. It's like our own he used to say this is mine. I am very intelligent. I am the one who did my business. And because of my brain, I became wealthy and ally saying that, well, who gave you the brain? So Pamela, who gave you the ability? It's not you? We gave it to you. So Muslims need to
go back one one space two spaces, and see where it will go back? Always to Allah subhana wa Tada. Don't think like someone says,
You know what?
I'm so pretty. I need to show myself who gave you the prettiness it's not from you.
Those whom you think are not pretty? It's the same maker who made them?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
No one shows what you're going to look like? No.
No one chose your identity, your nationality, a family going to be in your race. No one chose that. It's Allah Allah decided. So don't think for a moment that this is me and I'm my own boss. And I own myself Allah.
Allah owns you completely. He just released you into the earth for a reason that is to test you. And you know what? He's going to take you back. So don't be deceived. And he's going to ask you every possible question. We sent a messenger Did you get the messages? What did you do about it?
We had this talk, for example, and not just this talk, but so many others.
We had someone who came to teach you an Arabic lesson or the Quran lesson. What did you do about it? Or you were too busy watching movies,
lights effect.
We had in your message if we had an Imam who came weekly to teach lessons just for half an hour, did you go and sit? No, we didn't. Where were you just, I was just,
I'm just giving you an example. But it's a fact. It's just we're doing something irrelevant. We're not saying don't enjoy, go out, enjoy but to not compromise your link with Allah. The balance, you need the balance, you need to make sure that you have the love of Allah subhanho wa Taala which is intact, and at the same time, you can enjoy you can go to the shops, you can go and buy something that makes you smile. You can Mashallah by your wife a rose or a bouquet of flowers, or perhaps the other way round and hamdulillah it's not bad, it's not Haram. But remember one thing, don't be extravagant, don't go beyond the limits of Allah in anything. He within the limits. Thank Allah. One
of the biggest gifts of Allah subhanho wa Taala is to be able to use your time to remember Allah Subhana Allah Al hamdu Lillah Allahu Akbar La ilaha illa Allah what is most important is to say it from the heart randomly through the day. That is the proper way of remembering Allah. When the Hadith says the Prophet sallallahu Sallam used to ask Allah forgiveness
100 times a day. I'm sure you've heard
Isn't it? The Prophet sallallahu Sallam used to seek Allah's forgiveness 100 times a day by saying a spell for Allah never ever did that Hadith make mention of that being in one city. It was through the day, three times after every Salah few times now and again morning, afternoon, evening and night 510 times here 510 times they are still fula you know I've tried to do this and put it into my my routine Subhan Allah, Allah, Allah Allah forgive me say it in your language whatever you want Allah forgive me all I thank you while you are driving while you are walking while you are coming in while you are going out. Just before you eat while you're eating after you eat every time you remember
when you're talking to someone. This is called the remembrance of Allah throughout the day you remember Allah, so he said, Allah forgive me as you're walking out Who said it? You know, Allah knows and you can smile about it. You can smile about it. You said Allah forgive me, which means I'm working out and I'm speaking in my own language, but I'm talking to Allah.
Praise be to Allah. Allah you blessed me with so much that's thanking Allah.
Allah bestowed upon me so much it's thanking Allah
how many of us have thanked Allah in that way? All I thank you for the eyes you've given me all I thank you for the nose you've given me Oh, live breathing, I thank you for my lungs. Yala. All I thank you for my Nan's. So, I'm not gonna lie. That's such a deep thought because nobody would actually say that in a rush. Unless you've been thinking about it. That's right, unless you want you want to know about us. Start looking within yourself. You see the greatness of Allah, because you are just a creature of Allah. Imagine the creator Subhana Allah.
This is Allah subhana wa Tada. So Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks on it. And Allah subhanho wa Taala says, there are so many gifts Do you know
peace and stability is a big gift of Allah, you need to contribute towards its preservation. Make sure you do not do anything that will harm the peace and stability around you, whether it's in your home or in your society, or country, nation or the globe at large. Peace is such a big gift.
Why
was
it
Allah says in verse number 153,
hold fast to the rope of Allah and to not be disunited. And remember the gift of Allah upon you, when you were little groups, and when you were apart, and when you were disunited, and when you were astray, and Allah brought you together, he brought you together, he united you upon a path and made you brothers and sisters. That's a gift of Allah. So for me to feel the brotherhood and sisterhood is actually a gift of Allah for me to feel the link with you, even though I don't know you but the fact that you are believing person who's trying to earn the pleasure of Allah subhanho wa Taala and I have a link with you, which is stronger than the link of blood, and hamdulillah I'm so happy
that's a gift of Allah automatically. I need to fulfill my rights. I need to greet you with salam, salam o Alaikum beautifully, and I can add some flavor to it some reward to eat some extra prayer to eat what Mottola Baraka, Masha Allah.
Allah bless us, Allah grant us ease. The gift of Allah policy so great, we have this brotherhood, we have this link Subhana Allah
I greet you I feel that I'm connected to you. I see my brothers and sisters, I smile, I'm really happy. Mashallah, what brings me together? Well, I might have 100 differences with you. But I've got 1000 things in common as well. Really, what is your aim? Your aim is paradise. Well, that is my aim to
what is your aim to end the pleasure of Allah that is my aim to that's why we're reminding one another. And I'm also a person who needs to be reminded. And this is why these reminders benefit us as speakers more sometimes than those who we speak to. It's a fact.
So we need to thank Allah subhanho wa Taala and we need to remember this is the gift of Allah, peace, stability, security. These are the gifts of Allah subhanho wa Taala. He says that, by his favor, he made you brothers.
So to have brothers and sisters in the favor of Allah, how do you treat them, both Blood Brothers and sisters, as well as those who are sisters and brothers in faith, as well as those who are brothers and sisters in humanity who may not share
same faith, they have rights over you. They don't share the same fate. Perhaps we did not belong to Islam generations back. What happened? Someone somehow some way helped us. They were our brothers and sisters in humanity, they cared for us enough to reach out to us with the beautiful message. So that today we became brothers and sisters, not only in humanity, but even in faith. So you to reach out to those who are your brothers and sisters in humanity with the idea of bringing them closer so they can become your brothers and sisters in faith as well.
It's a gift of Allah.
You know, when Adam alayhis salam was the only of his species, he was lonely, very lonely.
Imagine you are the only human being and around you all the other creatures of Allah subhanho wa Taala. How would you feel? If you were thrown into an island? And you were told, right? You were to stay here for one month? What is that? Nothing. You are the only human being go? None of us will go to Allah subhanho wa Taala Oh, sorry, unless you put money on that, then maybe think about it. And that too would have to be a big trigger. Because you know, money. It makes people do things you tell I gotta pay 20 gauge go to that island says no. 2018 gauge What's 2018 2000? No, 20,000? No, 200,000? No. 2 million no 20 million?
Do you want me to go?
So there's a figure. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us. However, what Allah has blessed us with is beyond price. It's called priceless. You cannot put a tear, you have life you have, you have house you have so much more than others. And this is why Allah subhanho wa Taala says, if you want to appreciate our gifts, look at those who have less than you. The minute you start looking at those who have more than you, you won't appreciate what Allah has given you.
When Allah gives you it's a blessing. And it's a test.
And it could also be a punishment.
You know, some people fight for certain things. I give you one small example. It's just come to my head. There was a case of a man who wanted a certain position. And he told me, mate, we are going into vote today, you know, in our company, and I want this position. So I said, Look, if it is good for you made happen. He said, No, no, I wanted. I said, You can't say that. Make it make a do it all if it's better for me let it happen. If not, we don't want it to happen. And he says, No, please just make this time make sure that I want the post. I said, Look, that's the best I can offer you in terms of job.
I'm very, very confident if it's better for you let it happen. If not, you won't get it. Anyway, the guy got the post.
And his life turned upside down. Because a little while later, something happened in the company and the investigation came in and he being at the top of the company was the one who was responsible. They jailed him after that for a few months. They held it and he later on he came to me and says I'll never forget what you told me when you said if Allah if it's better for me let it happen. This was the worst possible thing.
So this is why sometimes when you've been given a top position, sometimes it's a blessing. Sometimes it's not a blessing, it's a test.
A test can also be a blessing, but beyond that, it can even be a punishment. Why? If you've turned away from Allah all your life, who knows what this might be, we're not saying it's always a punishment, but who knows what it might be. It's a big responsibility. That's what it is. Are you ready to take up the responsibility? So Panama, may Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us ease. I want to end with
mentioning the gifts of Allah and the phases of Allah subhanho wa Taala upon some of the others and what they did about it, you know, one of those who was bestowed with greatest gifts,
was Sulayman alayhi salam,
he made the dua and this it's always correct for us to continue asking Allah Allah bless me with great gifts no problem Allah open your doors. Oh Allah I thank you for what you've given me and I asked you increase that's a good job. Oh Allah I thank you for what you've given me and I asked you to increase it. So you're thanking Him and at the same time you're asking him for more units all you've given me nothing now please give me because you gave my neighbor quite a lot.
That's very bad. So so they might allow us to make it
or be heavily
in
for Allah grant me Kindle, that you will not grant anyone after me. You are indeed the one who gives you are the owner of the gifts you know, you give Allah have is the one who gives.
So he used to make this to our give me kingdom. So Allah says for some
We have the gdb emri, we gave him so much we blessed him with so much that even the wind used to move with his instruction.
Imagine someone says to the wind,
and the wind starts moving.
So Pamela so they might say Sam had this.
The clouds and they start moving.
A bird walks in and he speaks to it and he flies exactly out and comes in sits here
ends, the ends, the story of the ends, the whole surah is named after the ants Sulayman la sala What happened? Well, ah, he, the ants were all there, he was moving with his whole army, and he noticed the ants and they were talking and he heard the speech. And the one is calling out to the rest of them saying hey, you better all go back into your homes, because maybe perhaps you might be you know, crushed by a man and his entire army. So he stopped the whole army.
And then he made the dua and this is something you and I need to make regularly.
Allah makes mention of it is worth the number and it's mentioned in certain stuff as well similar to number verse number 19.
But I'll mention the one is working nominal and then I'll go go in to the one that sort of laughter Allah says
Fatima samovar.
Paulina Sulaiman, alehissalaam smiled. He smiled when he heard what the Auntie said. And then he says, rob
me.
grant me the ability to be thankful to you to be thankful for the favors You have bestowed upon me and my parents.
And grant me the ability to do good deeds. Why did you say that? Because good deeds is a sign of thankfulness and gratitude to Allah. You want to be grateful to Allah, you don't say, I think you will love but how are you dressed? And when is the last time you read your Salah? When did you pick up the Quran, so you don't just say thank you, I thank you in slack the person.
If someone gives you something, you say thank you, and you give them one slip, and you drive your car into this, you say thank you, thank you, you walk away, no ways, not at all. don't have that type of relationship with your maker. When you say I thank you Allah, you read Salah, you dedicate yourself to Allah. So this is why Solomon says, grant me the ability to do deeds, good deeds,
that will please you, and
that we could do good deeds that you will be happy with, that will make you happy.
And grant me entry into the circle of those who are your pious service. So Panama. And if you go to Allah speaks of men, and how the most grateful of men, those whom when they get to the age of peak in their lives, what is the peak of your life
4040 is considered peak, although the average is between 60 and 70. But the the 40 is considered peak as a gift of Allah. Do you know? The Hadith says the average lifespan of the members of my own mind is between 40 and between sorry, between 60 and 70. So say for example, 65 just say, the process Allah passed on at 63.
If someone says what's the peak? If 63 is the end? Or 65? Is the end? What's the peak? The peak would be? 30 to 35. Right?
But Allah says no, the peak is 40 because he kept you energetic for longer than is kept you sick and old. Have you ever thought of it?
Allah kept you at at a good health decent health. You don't just start becoming sick at 40? No, perhaps 5060 not even in the 50s, late 50s 60s in once you plug 60 you can start expecting closure. And a lot of mentors.
It's a reality. It's a fact we need to talk about it. It says that we're like the gift of Allah is giving you old age. It's a gift because you now know you're Kenan and going, I can feel I'm no longer how I was 6070 start preparing to meet with Allah. There's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong in us saying it. You think? Thank you, you gave me this life. Was it meaningful? How did you reach out to others and how did you reach out to Allah subhanho wa Taala very great.
Gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala so you need to know this and this is why we say Allah says the pig at 14 the person makes a drought he calls out the supplicates to Allah subhanaw taala have similar drought but the ending is a little bit different
from me I was in me
at
Nina Muslim me the beginning is the same that Allah grant me the ability to be thankful to you for what you have bestowed upon me and my parents and grant me the ability
to do good deeds that will please you
and Allah
make good for me my offspring those who are to come after me my offspring. So I'm asking Allah give me children and make them good children make them a means of my entry to gender make them a means of the coolness of my eyes. grant me a good good remembrance in my own children. After you and I have gone people will look at our children and say, Oh, this is the daughter of so and so. Mashallah. Mashallah, oh, they will say that how long?
Which one do you want? Do you want people to look at your kids and
your kids and say Mashallah hamdullah Well, there's a jar to make an over and above that the help of Allah will come when you try to achieve the help of Allah. There's no point to say Allah helped me or help me but you don't want to use the energies I was giving you. You need to use the energy and let's say Allah helped me Allah says I gave you the ability just to a little bit and that's it, the doors will open.
So especially if he really Allah my offspring,
that is to come after me, make good for me, my my offspring, and make me good through my offspring, they will make a draft for you. According to the Hadees when you die, one of the most beneficial things ever that can reach you is to have your children for you. It sounds so simple, but it's the most powerful thing you can have. And the last part of the drama, which is the most powerful part of the drama, in me
in the middle Muslim, Oh Allah, I repeat to you I returned to you all. And I am from amongst the submitters
which means to return to Allah to repent to Allah. And to ask Allah forgiveness is definitely one of the favors of Allah Subhan Allah, may He forgive us? For indeed Jelena is the biggest gift Allah subhanho wa Taala can ever give any one of us in the era if you have entered into gender, forget about the rest. You know, it's like
there was
an occasion where occasionally I was addressing people and someone told me you know, this is like childbirth, that a woman is excited to be pregnant Mashallah, you know, you're married and hamdulillah you get excited or Mashallah pregnant and everyone is making dua.
And then when it comes to delivery, is a lot of anxiety, a lot of difficulty, there is hardship there is a fear of the unknown. And so Kerala so much of perhaps pain pain, Allah speaks about imagine, the Quran speaks about it.
Allah subhanho wa Taala says
regarding the status of the mother, Allah says the mother has held this individual without any choice, Allah subhanho wa Taala has made the mother of all the child through whatever difficulties through whatever she's been through, and she laid or she gave birth to the child. Similarly,
so the difficulty is called labor. It's called labor. Hard work. Very difficult, very, very painful. But you tell me after that, when you see this beautiful child cry, small little cup, and they give you the baby, everything is forgotten.
So excited, and a year later, to you know, they call them the terrible twos, but that same terrible twos, it's the best time to actually play with your kids. And terrible twos but they the cutest at that age, Mashallah. You got to carry them. You know, when I carry my children a lot, my mother says don't spoil them. Don't spoil them caring too much. I say no. Nobody's going to carry a 20 year old Let me carry them now while I can.
While I can spoil them. So now they don't tell me don't carry them. Carry them, lift them, put them on your head.
Because once they grow to a certain age, you won't be able to carry them all. Once you grow to a certain age you won't be able to carry for Allah subhanho wa Taala make it easy for us. So the point being raised is the difficulty of childbirth is forgotten when the goodness of the child is seen thereafter. Similarly, the amount of problems we had in the dunya will be totally forgotten. The minute we are granted entry into genuine Lagrangian, not all of us and Allah subhanho wa Taala opened our doors, I tried to address the topic of being questioned by Allah, about our Nima from different angles and I hope that we've benefited from it in a certain way. It's become more
conscious of how Allah has favored us and let's become more conscious of being grateful to Allah through obedience to Allah subhanho wa Taala hoping for the best in this world in the next episode of
Columbia, MD.
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